I wanted to first thank you for creating these wonderful cards! I’ve decided to do a window display for the library at the school. I have attached the pictures for you. 99% of our school is African-American, free lunch, and lower income. It is so wonderful that we’re able to actually see other African-Americans throughout history that can serve as role models for our students. They all stare at the windows and study each card, and it fascinates the teachers as well as myself. There is so much history that we never have been taught or was told about.
We had an author visit earlier this year that had written a book about a house slave during Revolutionary Times named Elizabeth Mumbet who sued Massachusetts for her and her daughter’s freedom and won (“A Free Woman on God’s Earth”). This really got us wondering what else we are missing. We later found out that the school was on the grounds of the largest slave sale that was ever done in the United States. This was called the Weeping Time (due to it raining for two days straight as 436 slaves were sold in two days. After the final sale, the sun came out.) We plan to do a commemoration for it on March 2. Sorry to be long-winded, but your cards truly were the perfect item for our school and I really want to express what it inspiration they are. I’ve put both packs in the windows, and the students come around to read the back of the cards that they find interesting. It teaches them research, as well as important facts about people who they normally would not know about. I just really want to thank you so much for doing this.
Thanks you SOOO much.
Our story began with a dream of children being challenged and inspired by the achievements and ingenuity of their ancestors. The founder of Urban Intellectuals, Freddie Taylor, had children in the early 2000s and wanted them to understand their powerful history and culture. Frustrated with the educational system that seemed to ignore the achievements of people that looked like his children, he began to search for products and services that assisted him with this endeavor. Unable to find many, he asked other parents and teachers what were they using?
He found himself saying someone should, someone should, someone should, and one day, he became someone and the Black History Flashcards were born in 2017, despite his children being older and grown. This was a movement for our collective future.
The Black History Flashcards feature 52 cards in each series with picture information on the front and bullet-pointed information on the back became an instant sensation in the community because of the simple and straightforward information that made it easy to digest, but also because of the focus on expanding the conversation around the contributions to humanity Black people have made throughout time.
Many schools and school districts have purchased our Black History Flashcards for their teachers, classrooms, and students to use for a variety of different reasons:
“I use your cards in my American History class! Everyday, they come into class bring a card and have to fill out the Do Now about who they have. This has empowered my students more than anything I’ve ever done. They are asking for lessons about certain people, wanting to read autobiographies, and do presentations on their own time.
I can’t tell you how thankful I am for these cards. Teaching a population of 96% black students that have never studied anyone for more than a month that looked like them, it changed their entire life.
Thank you ✊🏾 thank you ✊🏾thank you ✊🏾“
I work at a public library and created a matching game using 14 of the cards as part of a civil rights week the library had in January. Several people played the game, more people looked at the cards.
The cards have been a great addition to BYS- thank you!
See the board being used on their facebook page here!
As our reach and mission grew, we discovered there were many more gaps and needs inside the community that could further be assisted by using history and culture. So we partnered with special educators that we call “World Changers” to create the Sankofa Club. As the #1 Black History Club For Children, the Sankofa Club encourages children to become their authentic selves by learning from their ancestors via live black history classes, worksheets, activities, and a thriving community of like-minded parents and families.
Imagine how empowered you would feel if you had example after example after example of ancestors who persevered, overcame obstacles, became scientists, invented technology, became doctors and more. Imagine being able to relate to these ancestors because they look just like you and came from similar conditions. Imagine knowing you came from a royal bloodline.
Our Sankofa Club has successfully raised student’s self-esteem through heritage and social-emotional learning and has resulted in:
And it can work inside of your school and school district as well.
Black Math Genius is an exceptional Math program that leverages the power of family and enrichment programming to improve student outcomes academically and socially. The video-based program empowers teachers and parents to increase student interest and performance in the classroom and on high-stakes assessments. The honda-on, internet based, live group tutoring sessions are designed to take engagement and understanding to the next level for your students.
Our methodology has proven to be effective with children from the 3rd to 8th grades, plus Algebra 1. Soon we will expand to encompass more but for now we are focused on serving these areas of focus.
Black Math Genius can help with programming and professional development. The program is aligned to the College and Career Readiness, SEL, and CSTA standards.